Annejet van der Zijl

Experts and people who knew him attempt to get to the heart of his character. Their stories are visually supported by unique and never-before-seen footage from Bernhard's private collection.

Insiders, close friends, and experts talk about the impressive life of Princess Beatrix: the powerful woman, friend, and mother behind the office.

Documentary accompanying the new book 'Bernhard: A Hidden History' by author Annejet van der Zijl. The book provides a historical reconstruction of Bernhard zur Lippe Biesterfeld's German childhood. For this, Van der Zijl spent five years researching the archives of, among others, Bernhard's German family and his secondary schools, and spoke with friends and acquaintances from his time in Germany. NOS reporter Arjan Nieuwenhuizen interviews Van der Zijl and returned to Wojnowo, now located in Poland but German territory at the time, and the place where Bernhard grew up on the Reckenwalde estate. Arjan Nieuwenhuizen unexpectedly stumbled upon unique private footage of Bernhard himself, filmed during his childhood and the first years with Princess Juliana. Excerpts from this can be seen in the documentary.

A series of short vignettes set in a Berlin Mietskaserne (rental barracks for the poor), framed by Schönberg's atonal piece Pierrot Lunaire.

Experts and people who knew him attempt to get to the heart of his character. Their stories are visually supported by unique and never-before-seen footage from Bernhard's private collection.

Insiders, close friends, and experts talk about the impressive life of Princess Beatrix: the powerful woman, friend, and mother behind the office.